Thursday, May 27, 2010

ANOTHER WORLD TODAY EPISODE #55-2

Cass pleaded, "Try to understand, Frankie. I was never, ever, ever going to live without you again. Charlie was never going to live without you again. That simply was no longer an option. I had to do whatever it took to protect you. To protect us. Cecile threatened our family. She threatened our children."

"Cecile had a child, too."

"A child she conned me into thinking was mine. She broke my heart and Maggie's without so much as a moment's hesitation. For what? For money. For kicks. To piss you off. The woman was pathological."

"And now she's made you the same."

"No!" Cass swore. "Cecile enjoyed making other people suffer. I merely took matters into my own hands in order to keep my family safe."

"Just because you're not drawing any joy from what Felicia, Lucas and Lorna are going through now, doesn't make this situation acceptable. You still caused it, whether you meant to or not." * * *

Lorna offers Jamie a lesson in math - and history, Marley and Grant risk discovery, Spencer lashes out at Alice, Allie lets down Gregory, and you help Frankie and Cass choose their next step!

Plus, a classic clip of Ryan learning the truth about his parents... all of his parents.

Rose Greenman, the woman Mindy believes to be her biological mother finally called, and asked if it would be alright for her to come see Mindy in person the next day. Mindy agreed. (And learned that her name isn't actually Mindy. Find out what it really is at: http://twitter.com/MelindaSueLewis)

Mindy turned to Phillip for advice on how to handle the situation. He reminisced about his discovery that Justin, not Alan, was actually his biological father. (Follow a link to this classic clip from: http://twitter.com/MelindaSueLewis)

Rick asked Mindy if she wanted him to stay and support her through the meeting with Rose. She insisted she'd be fine. Ed shared with Mindy some heart-breaking stories about his own complex relationship with his parents, advising, "It took me a very long time, Mindy, but I finally accepted that parents don't know anything better than anybody else. I've had to learn it as a father, and as a son. You'll learn it, too."

Mindy thanked Ed for his (disturbing) observation, and spent some time wondering how Hudson's biological parents, Allie and Gregory, were doing. She mused that giving up your baby had to be a very difficult thing... Or maybe it wasn't. She had somebody she could ask now. Rose was standing at Mindy's door.

The invitation to Lori Ann's christening had come by text-message and from Frankie, not Felicia. Lorna guessed that when her mother instructed, "Just family," Cass' wife had foolishly assumed that obviously meant Lorna, too.

At least Lorna had received the correct hour for this occasion. Coming late had been of her own volition this time. She snuck into the back of the church, and watched, unobserved, as her niece was baptized the daughter of Mary Frances and Cass Winthrop, goddaughter of Sharlene Frame, sister of Charlie, granddaughter of the one and only Felicia Gallant.

Dean should have been here. Lucas should have been here. Jenna... Jenna should have been here most of all. This wasn't right. And everybody knew it.

Felicia, being Felicia, tried to make up for the underlying sadness on what ostensibly was such a happy occasion by being even more... Felicia than usual....

* * *

Frankie blindsides Cass with an accusation, John makes Donna an offer, Allie and Gregory face a new crisis, while Jamie and Lorna finally (!) go on their long-awaited date.

Plus, classic John/Sharlene and Cass/Frankie clips, and the infamous Jenna/Dean "Ladykiller" video in its entirety.

Monday, May 17, 2010

"Still asleep, honey," she began, as the double-doors behind them opened and Lila walked in, having apparently just gotten home — but that was none of Rachel's business — with Grant Harrison bringing up the rear — which most certainly was.

"How about the next best thing?" Grant suggested to his son with such discombobulating magnanimity of spirit that it effectively left his traditional detractors absurdly speechless. "I figured Jamie could use a day to himself to regroup and relax. The weather is perfect for hot-air ballooning. I know a place — "

"Ooh, could I go with you, Mr. Harrison?" Jasmine interrupted.

"Me, too?" Cory pleaded.

"Me, three?" Elizabeth jumped in.

"No!" Carl had been fine up to a point. But the sight of Elizabeth beseeching Grant for... anything was more than he could bear; Jamie's taunt of "I'm just trying to give you perspective, Carl," echoing not merely in Carl's ears but down his spine and through every ventricle. He forced himself to assume a deceptively placid countenance, pointing out ever so reasonably, "You all have school today, Kirkland included."

"Carl is right," Rachel said. "But, Grant, would you care to join us for breakfast?"

"Really?" Grant tried and failed to keep the surprise out of this voice.

Mindy was just settling into being a new mom with Hudson, when she witnessed an awkward reunion between Holly and Meg (with Fletch and Alex in tow).

Alex didn't let being in the company of children stop her from purring, "Congratulations on your new arrival, Melinda. Of course, taking care of an infant is so arduous... especially at your age... Wouldn't you agree, Holly?"

Holly parried, "How would you know, Alex, you've never raised an infant in your life."

And the insults continued from there. (For details, click on the link above. And remember, Twitter reads chronologically from the bottom up; newest posts first.)

Fletch interceded by sharing that Meg would be living in Springfield permanently now, and going to the same high-school as Leah, Jason and Kevin. They'd just received an anonymous grant - "Imagine that," Alex trilled - to start an inclusion class for children of various abilities.

Later, Mindy spoke on the phone to Marah, who said people were wondering when Mindy intended to get back to work. Mindy wasn't sure if she wanted to now, but promised to get back to Marah ASAP.

When the phone rang again seconds later, Mindy picked it up with a, "Very funny, Marah."

But it wasn't Marah on the other end.

"Hello, Melinda Sue. My name is Mrs. Rose Levine. A long time ago, I used to be Rose Greenman. I understand you believe I'm your mother..."

ANOTHER WORLD TODAY EPISODE #53-2: THINK YOU KNOW WHO KILLED CECILE? THINK AGAIN...

"You're being suspiciously nice to me," Grant observed as Marley offered him another glass of wine, following an invitation to dinner at her house that started with the girls in attendance, and ended after bedtime, with just the two grown-ups sharing a nightcap. "Occam's Razor suggests it's due purely to guilt on your part, rather than any desire to spend time in my presence. Or worse, pity."

"A little bit of all three," Marley admitted. "And neither."

"Ah, a cryptic woman. My favorite kind."

"And here I thought your favorite kind of woman was blonde, busty, and with legs that go on forever."

"A little bit of all three," he studied her neutrally over his glass. "And neither."

***

Felicia finds a scapegoat, Carl threatens a family member, Amanda follows in her mother's footsteps, John passes on a message from Donna, Jamie gets a surprise visitor, and there's yet another twist in Cecile's murder!

Plus a classic clip of Lucas/Lorna, and Vicky explaining her take on lying.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Monday, May 10, 2010

ANOTHER WORLD TODAY EPISODE #53-1

Lucas smiled, took a seat on his cot, and, as if they weren't locked into adjacent jail cells but socializing in some more congenial setting, asked Jamie, "So what exactly are your intentions towards my daughter? Do you see the two of you getting married? Or just shacking up and having a good time?"

"I — to be honest, I haven't thought that far ahead, yet. The only immediate plans Lorna and I made before... everything... was to go on a date."

"I'm going to prison just so the two of you can date?"

"Well, it'd be our first official date," Jamie offered. "We've kind of been stuck — "

"At the gate," Lucas finished. "Yeah, Lorna told me. She also said a lot can happen at the gate, and apparently a lot has. You get that look on your face every time you say her name. The one that strikes fear into the hearts of fathers everywhere. Do you love her?"

"That," Jamie said, politely but firmly. "Is between Lorna and I. No one else."

* * *

The fall-out from Lucas' confession brings out the best in Rachel and Alice, as well as Kirkland and Grant - and the worst in Felicia and Lorna. Donna laments her treatment to John, Cass reluctantly steps up, and GQ makes an uncomfortable confession.

Plus a classic Cass in therapy clip, and Lucas lays down the law to Dean.

Friday, May 07, 2010

Rick and Mindy brought their new baby, Hudson Lewis Bauer, home, and were greeted by a surprise party of family and friends who'd gotten together to set up the nursery in advance of their homecoming.

The two grandfathers, Billy and Ed, engaged in friendly debate about whether the boy looked more like a Lewis or a Bauer.

Phillip bought his godson a Palomino pony and told Rick and Mindy that things between him and Beth were still rocky, but they were working on it.

Bill confided in Mindy that Lizzie seemed to have gotten over the worst of her jealously about Sarah's closeness to Jonathan's girlfriend, Aubrey, but now her two parents were going at it over the best pre-school to send Sarah to in the fall. Lizzie wanted someplace traditional and structured, with uniforms and French. Jonathan, according to Lizzie, wanted to send their daughter to a progressive school where the kids did nothing but roll around in the mud all day. In English.

Though tearfully grateful for all that her friends and family had done for them, Mindy was nevertheless relieved once everyone was gone and she, Rick and Hudson could finally share a moment as a family - alone.

She noted that the moment was perfect. But this is Springfield, after all. So.... What in the world was going to happen next?

Thursday, May 06, 2010

ANOTHER WORLD TODAY EPISODE #52-2

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bauer, have you confused my courtroom with a clown car?" Chase Hamilton asked Mike politely upon entering to find it filled to the rafters, every bench behind both the defense and prosecution tables packed with either a Frame, a Cory, a Hutchins, a Matthews, an MD, or a Tiny Tim, eager to testify about Dr. Jamie's selflessly noble qualities. "Are you actually planning to call all these people to the stand, or are we looking at professional seat-fillers, like for the Academy Awards?"

Mike handed him a two-paged list. "I hope you've been eating your Wheaties, Counselor. It's going to be a long day."

Monday, May 03, 2010

New York, NY—As The World Turns is sad to announce the death of Helen Wagner, who for 54 years played “Nancy Hughes” on the soap opera. Wagner, 91, passed away on Saturday, May 1 2010.

Wagner spoke the first words on As The World Turns when the show premiered on April 2, 1956, and holds the Guinness World Record for playing the same role on television for the longest amount of time. In 2004, Wagner was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In 2002, she received a plaque on the Buddy Holly Walk of Fame in Lubbock, Texas.

"All of us at As The World Turns are deeply saddened by Helen's passing," said Christopher Goutman, Executive Producer. "She is loved by generations of fans and while we will miss her greatly, Helen will always remain the heart and soul of As The World Turns.

"Born on September 3, 1918 in Lubbuck, Texas, Wagner studied at Monmouth College in Illinois, earning degrees in dramatics and music. While working at her first professional stage job singing with the St. Louis Municipal Opera, Wagner caught the eye of Oscar Hammerstein, who then cast Wagner in the Broadway production of Sunny River.

Wagner's other Broadway credits include Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, The Bad Seed, My Name Is Acquilon and Love of Four Colonels. She toured as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire with Lee Marvin, and appeared in regional theater in Illinois as Eleanor in The Lion in Winter and in all of the women's roles in Lovers and Other Strangers.

Before joining As The World Turns in 1956, Wagner appeared on a number of television programs including Studio One, Philco Radio Television and The World of Mr. Sweeney.

Wagner was married to Broadway producer Robert Willey from June, 1954 until his death in May, 2009.